Miami Community Newspapers is supporting Dominique “Nikki” Whiting for Coral Gables City Commission Group V. We don’t make these decisions because somebody has a fancy résumé, knows the right people or can give a good speech. We look at the person, their background, their involvement in the community and, most importantly, what they believe needs to be done. After looking at this race, we believe Nikki Whiting is the right person to bring new energy, experience and a strong work ethic to the Coral Gables City Commission. Coral Gables is a great city. But great cities do not stay great by sitting still. The city is growing, traffic continues to be a major issue, development continues to put pressure on neighborhoods, residents want their voices heard and taxpayers expect their money to be handled responsibly. The people sitting on the City Commission have to be ready to deal with those issues every single day. They have to show up, do the homework, ask questions and make decisions. That is what being a commissioner is about. Nikki Whiting understands government. She has worked in and around government at a level most candidates simply have not experienced. Her background includes working with former Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, former Miami-Dade Commissioner Steve Bovo, Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez. She has also been involved in Coral Gables through the city’s Property Advisory Board and Communications Committee. She currently works at Florida International University’s Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom. That experience matters because City Hall is complicated, and understanding how government actually works can make a big difference. But this election should not be about a résumé. It should be about Coral Gables. Whiting has talked about public safety, responsible spending, transparency, traffic and pedestrian safety, responsible development and better communication between City Hall and residents. Those are exactly the kinds of issues that need attention. Residents should not have to fight to get answers from their government. They should not have to wonder whether development decisions are being made with the long-term future of the city in mind. And taxpayers should expect every dollar spent by the city to be treated like it came directly out of their own pocket. We also like the fact that Nikki Whiting is not coming into this race pretending she has all the answers. She is talking about listening, learning and doing the work. That is important. Being a city commissioner is not about having a title. It is about serving the people who elected you. We have watched Coral Gables politics for many years. We know that every election brings promises. Everybody says they want better communication. Everybody says they want responsible development. Everybody says they want safe streets and good government. The real question is who has the experience and determination to follow through once the campaign signs come down and the hard work begins. That is why Miami Community Newspapers supports Nikki Whiting. We believe she brings a combination of government experience, community involvement and a fresh perspective that Coral Gables can use. We believe she understands that residents are the customers of local government and that elected officials work for them. And we believe she will bring energy to the commission and ask the tough questions that need to be asked. This is an important election for Coral Gables. The decisions made by the next City Commission will affect development, traffic, public safety, city finances, neighborhoods and the quality of life of residents for years to come. Our position is clear: Miami Community Newspapers supports Dominique “Nikki” Whiting for Coral Gables City Commission Group V. Now it is up to the voters of Coral Gables to get involved, learn about the candidates and decide who they want representing them on the City Commission. The post Miami Community Newspapers Supports Nikki Whiting for Coral Gables Commission appeared first on Miami’s Community News. ...read more read less